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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Owlflies, Lacewings, Mantidflies and Allies (Neuroptera) » Lacewings, Mantidflies and Allies (Hemerobiiformia) » Green Lacewings (Chrysopidae)

Family Chrysopidae - Green Lacewings

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Chrysopa nigricornis Lacewing Larva with debris from below Green Lacewing IMG_8155 Green Lacewing - Chrysoperla rufilabris Ceraeochrysa sp.? - Ceraeochrysa Lacewing Neuroptera?
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Owlflies, Lacewings, Mantidflies and Allies)
Suborder Hemerobiiformia (Lacewings, Mantidflies and Allies)
Family Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings)
Explanation of Names
Chrysopidae Schneider 1851
see Chrysopa
Numbers
85 spp. in 14 genera* in our area(1); ca. 1,200 spp. in 75 genera and 3 subfamilies worldwide(2)
*Genera not yet in the guide: Chrysopodes (1 sp., FL, TX), Nacarina (1 sp., NC, FL), Nineta (1 sp., AZ-UT), Pimachrysa (5 spp., AZ-CA), Plesiochrysa (1 sp., FL)
Identification
Key to most NA genera provided in(3)
Soft-bodied insects with copper-colored eyes, long thread-like antennae, and lacy wings.
  
To the naked eye the wings appear hairless, but under magnification short hairs can be seen along the edges and veins. See photo and diagram of wing venation:
  
Most species are green, but some are brown, especially overwintering adults of certain species:
  
Pinned specimens turn yellowish.
Larvae are flat and elongated (alligator-like) with large jaws. Debris-carrying larvae cover themselves with bits of litter, perhaps to deter predators.
Habitat
Common in grass and weeds and on tree/shrub foliage
Food
Some adults are predators, others take liquids such as honeydew, and some feed on pollen
Larvae are predatory on other insects, especially aphids (sometimes called 'aphid lions'); will also consume larger insects, insect eggs, and pupae.
Life Cycle
Eggs are characteristically stalked. The eggs and egg-laying process is illustrated here:
  
The larvae pupate in silken cocoons that are generally attached to the underside of leaves or stems.

See illustration:
  
Click on either image to see the entire life cycle of Chrysopa oculata (Golden-eyed Lacewing)
Remarks
often give off an unpleasant odor when handled.
Some species used as biological controls
Video of larvae feeding on aphids.
Adults are crepuscular or nocturnal.
See Also
Hemerobiidae have different wing venation and usually more oval wings
Mantispidae have raptorial forelegs
Print References
Duelli et al. 2014. A New Look at Adaptive Body Coloration and Color Change in “Common Green Lacewings” of the Genus Chrysoperla (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 107(2): 382-388
Internet References
Entomology and Nematology News. The Fascinating Behavior of Debris-Carrying by Green Lacewing Larvae
BioOne. Debris-Carrying in Larval Chrysopidae: Unraveling Its Evolutionary History
ToL
U. Florida. Green lacewings (of Florida) Neuroptera: Chrysopidae
Wikipedia
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.Chrysopidae of Canada and Alaska (Ins., Neuroptera): revised checklist, new and noteworthy records,and geo-referenced localities
Garland J.A., Kevan D.K. Mce. 2007. Zootaxa 1486: 1–84.
3.The green lacewings of Florida (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). 1. Genera
Stange L.A. 2000. Fla. Dept. Agric. & Consumer Serv., Division of Plant Industry, Entomology Circular No. 400.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Stephen_WV, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Bbarnd, Chuck Entz, ceiseman, v belov, Abigail Parker
Last updated 18 October, 2017 - 8:26am

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